49ers’ Jim Harbaugh lauds the work of his defense

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 14: Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with head coach Jim Harbaugh after Davis scored a touchdown in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park on January 14, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

FILE - This Aug. 26, 2012 file photo shows San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, right, arguing with a replacement official during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, in Denver. The NFL will open the regular season with replacement officials. League executive Ray Anderson has told the 32 teams that with negotiations remaining at a standstill between the NFL and the officials' union. The replacements will be on the field beginning next Wednesday night, Sept. 5, 2012 when the Cowboys visit the Giants to open the season. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney, File)

SANTA CLARA — A week removed from the aftertaste of Minneapolis, Jim Harbaugh was back to fond recollections during his Monday news conference.

“That was a gem our defense turned in,” Harbaugh said of the 49ers’ 34-0 whitewash of the Jets. His team was back in the Bay Area for the first time in more than a week after practicing in eastern Ohio ahead of Sunday’s game.

“Every guy played within the framework of the defense, playing their ace they had individually,” he added.

The dominant performance by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s crew kept the Jets out of the red zone all day and further established the 49ers (3-1) as one of the NFL’s elite teams even after that blip at Minnesota in a 24-13 Week 3 loss.

Harbaugh said the 49ers had prepared for Tim Tebow’s signature jump pass even though New York had yet to run it, so San Francisco had no videotape of the play. In New York’s first drive of the second quarter, Tebow completed a 9-yard pass to Dedrick Epps, who wound up fumbling after being hit by safety Dashon Goldson. Cornerback Carlos Rogers recovered for the 49ers.

It was the first turnover of three in a four-series stretch by the Jets. New York’s longest drive Sunday was 30 yards — to open the game — and it ended in a punt. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez finished with a 39.9 passer rating.

“Defensively, we knew how we came and played last week,” Rogers said. “Coach Vic talked this week and told us to play 49ers ball and play how we should play. Did we imagine a shutout? No, but we finished plays, got turnovers, and got off the field on third down. We got some gifts on defense, and we got in the end zone.”

Rogers recovered a fumble by Santonio Holmes after the receiver’s short catch on the first play of the fourth quarter and returned it 51 yards for his first career touchdown off a fumble recovery.

San Francisco limited the Jets to just 145 total net yards of offense — the 49ers’ lowest net yards allowed since giving up 109 on Jan. 3, 2010, at St. Louis.

Backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick drew praise from many observers for sliding down short of the end zone rather than scoring his second touchdown of the game as time expired Sunday.

Asked whether he would have had the presence of mind to do such a thing in his second season, Harbaugh answered, “Yes, I think so.”

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